I have collected for 50 years or more and have over 1,000 vinyl albums. For the last 4 years I washed all my albums in warm water and dish soap in the kitchen sink just like a food plate. I use a paper towel and scrub in line with the grooves and I'm not scared to use some pressure either. After washing, I throw the album flat on a hand towel, wring out the paper towel I just used for washing and dry the vinyl on both sides, again in line with the grooves. Then, and this is probably the most controversial element of my cleaning process, I wring out the towel again and apply a touch of WD40 and apply around the grooves both ways. I then polish with a lint free cloth and that's it! I don't have a dirty or static record in my collection. This cleaning process has even brought back records I bought 50 years ago that have languished un played because of surface noise. WD40 not only purges the water from the record surface post washing it removes grease and static and even helps with hairline scratches and scuffs. If you are sceptical try this on your worst record and tell me that it doesn't work!

I have over 1,000 records and have cleaned all of them with dish soap in luke warm water followed by a spritz of WD40 on a wet paper towel over th past 4 years and I have the cleanest static free collection of anyone I know. This cleaning method has even brought back older records I have owned for 50 years that have languished un played. It really works with static and even fine scratches and I have notice no adverse reactions whatsoever. A record retailer told me a few years back to throw away all of my plastic album covers as the material sets off a chemical reaction with the vinyl over time and traps mould. I'm not sure about this but did it anyway as my storage is limited and the covers are bulky when considered collectively.

On the subject of tone controls, one thing you didn't mention is that everyone has different hearing. I've lost hearing from years of playing in loud rock bands, so I don't give a crap what anyone says, I'm using tone controls and won't buy any amp without them. Also, it's nice to adjust the tone for low volume listening.

Hi Rick, happy holidays. Enjoyed your "video". Now for a couple of fun facts: You appear to be losing your Boston accent. You used the word "here" and sounded like a national pronunciation instead of "heeya". I was only slightly disappointed. Believe it or not, there is a real word for Cheeto dust. It is called Cheetle, unlike the actor Don Cheadle The record holder you showed is a real problem solver. Kirmuss sells a similar product for $65 which I think is still pricey, but I also use it in the process of record cleaning. PS. I really do enjoy your Boston accent. Take care, best regards, Wayne

For a moment there, I thought Mike Mangini was talking….

The audiophile gets lost in the hype. It is the quality of the performance that counts. The vast majority of great performances are just not well recorded, pressed, maintained, etc. Most great performances were in the 40s to 60s, both classical and jazz. Pop music and Jazz, also Classical went downhill after 1985. So, most great performances are on records that, for a number of reasons are in B or C condition records. The tone controls help to offset the bad recordings. The goal is to find great music, and then to use electronics to make the poor recording as beautiful as possible.

I have a lot of styrene records too.

Eaaaasy & interestingly told, showed etc. Even kids will understand this. Thank you very much.

If you can step up to the Hanna Blue ...fantastic for the $$ worth every penny

Here's what Z will learn: Gen X grew up with records and went hard with CDs because they were better. I love vinyl and I collect them but not because they are better. They are not for many reasons but they are fun. I embraced CDs when the first came out because they were amazing. They still are. Here's some alternative advice: STOP Ruining Your Music Experience by listening to "experts"!

Guys, you should all know.. records are records and they won't play if you don't put them on the turntable.

It is worse having them leaning over against other records than being upright in a tight condition.

Hey Rick what was those round gray spots on those tubes sir?

I always go with one white glove to be cool. Michael Jackson did that too. Anyhow, thanks for the tube comparison. I'm thinking of trying the EL34 tubes in my BlackIce amp to see how it changes the character of the sound from the KT88 tubes I have in currently. I haven't done any tube rolling yet. I always laugh when I hear the term tube rolling. It sounds like you are going to do something illegal. 😂

You gave me 3 headaches in a span of 30 seconds, thats impressive

Will you be covering Linear Tracking Turntables?

For the very first time since I started watching your video's, you've gone from "how to propel a birch bark canoe" to "Advanced theory and operations of SSN S5W Nuclear Power Plants", only without the risk of radiation exposure. I think maybe I'll stick with my good old fashioned microchip buggy....LOL!

My Vinyl system... Pro-Ject Perspex Magnetic suspension turntable. Hadcock Export GH 242 Uni-pivot Tonearm (made in England) Denon DL 301 11 Moving Coil cartridge. Eastern Electric Mini-Max tube Phono stage. Sengter Belle JP 200 line stage tube Peamplifier Rotel RB - 1582 MK 11 Power Amplifier 200 W continuois /channel ("warm" sounding) i pair of KEF LS 50 Metas. Two SVS Sub woofers.

I admit I have reached a Howard Hughes level of obsession when it comes to handling my records. I not only wear nitrile gloves whenever I handle them, but I also have to wash my hands first. The glove is no good if I contaminate it with dirty hands! "Chain of contamination" is a phrase never far from my mind. I do also have exceptionally sweaty hands, so I think my methods make much more sense for me than for most, but still.

Hi Rick... Love your videos and this one really got to me... I have the ATLP60X and Iove it. I know I'll probably get battered on here but that's my budget... Now then for the fun.... I replaced the AT felt mat with a cork mat... Better sound straight away.... And now Audio Technica have released a stylus upgrade... ATN3600LE, yep I have an eliptical stylus on my ATLP60X and the sound is upgraded again. The sound is great for me and my mixture of vinyl ... Cheers

Hey Rick, I think that was me, but not so much about tubes. It was when I stopped plugging in my turntable directly into my integrated amp and I bought a Pro-Ject Phono Box (preamp) I realized what vinyl is supposed to sound like! Love your show.

@The Joy of Vinyl Records : I just discovered your channel a couple of days ago, and can say “ time spent well “ listening to your reports. I am relatively new to the topic of ‘ tubes ‘, and started with a Black Ice Audio amp ( Glass FX10H ), just to explore if this resonates with me. This was about 6 months back, and I very much like the sound and the possibility of dialing in with tube rolling. Thank you for sharing your experience and findings.

your camerera sync is playing havoc on the Christmas tree lights behind your head........ need convulsion warnings for this vid

Rick, I used to own Quicksilver Audio, model V4, tube amps. In 2006, when I was stereo shopping, I heard them, and was not impressed. So the store's owner swapped out one of the small tubes (12ax7, I believe) on each of the two amps. Note that each amp had two different small tubes. I do not remember which was which. But only one of the two tubes were swapped -- I think it was the one in the back. Well, it was the Wizard Of Oz, and I purchased the amps. I now have hybrid amps that use a single 6sn7 tube for the input. It was a similar story. I was not terribly impressed with the amps. So I installed a set of new, old stock (metal casing), Russian tubes (purchased from eBay), and it was heavenly. Tubes make a huge difference.

It's always good to have tube comparisons. So well done. I have listened to tubes all my life, starting with my dads Telefunken anniversary radio that I still have and still works. I always did my homework with this radio on in my tiny bedroom. I bought my first hifi tube amp in 1989, Audio Innovations 500 with EL34's. But it got totalled first time I brought it in for revision during transport. 😢 I got offered an Audio Note Oto with EL84 SE tubes. Very sweet. Then years later the PS transformer broke and it took 6 months to repair, so I took a shot at my first Chinese tubeamp. Even €100 less than the repair! Boy, a simple EL34 SE and it destroyed the Audio Note😳 after cap upgrade. Thats when I took on tube rolling. I was so sick of having it done for ridiculous prices. I didn't know that it just took courage. And my learning curve took off! I must confess, EL34 ate my least favorite tubes. If you want a real upgrade for EL34 try KT77 by JJ. You will be amazed. Big difference, much sweeter. A drop in replacement tetrode io pentode. Later I bought a cheap SE KT88 that sounded great and finally a 300B. That's still standing here as an exhibition piece. Now using Aiyima A70 mono's with Sparkos opamps and very happy. And not worrying about the electric bill. PS: no need to wear gloves. They are not halogen lightbulbs that get blazing hot. It's just glass. Just wipe them when you dust your stereo system.

Very nice and interesting video 👍👍👍 All the best from Kristiansand 😁👍

Groovy, Rick! I have lots of tube gear: Primaluna power amp, tiny Schiit Vali integrated, Woo Fireflies headphone amp & a Jolida DAC. None of those seem to respond to tube swapping with a change in their basic sound. (Maybe the Fireflies, but I haven't tested that one.) I have a FatMan (aka Dared) headphone amp that definitely does respond & I know that one was designed to have a fair amount of 2nd harmonic distortion that can be very ear pleasing. I traded its original Chinese valves (they had a star printed in them but no name) for Sylvania NOS (not expensive at all) & the sound became richer without the "hard" top end. I've read some experts recommend changing the tubes periodically, but my local dealer says leave 'em in place till you hear a problem or they break. Primaluna self-adjusts bias as the tubes/valves age so that seems to work.

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I always get the feeling your videos are commercials for sponsors. Are they sponsored or unsponsored?

oh you crazy rich tube people! :)

My first hands-on introduction to tubes was when I was in the US Air Force from 73-78. I worked as a Weather Equipment Specialist 302X0. At the time, the Magnetron used in the CPS9 weather radar was the most expensive part in the Air Force's inventory. Now, they are a very common item used in kitchen microwaves. The most common tube (valve) we used was the 12AT7. I find it fascinating that common tubes found back in the 50s and 60s are now part of the audio industry of 2024.

Indeed turn off the Christmas tree lights 😂.

I have been using a "mold" release agent for many years. I clean both new and used records using a vacuum record cleaning machine. A work turntable. A mold release agent. Record cleaning fluid (no alcohol) And record preservative. The result is unbelievable quietness. I only play records i purchased in the 60's and 70's because they were manufactured and recorded in a way that does not happen with re-issues. The quality control back then was top priority. And some of my records sound very close to reel to reel tape. I am not joking. Records that have been played with a conical stylus or an earlier model eliptical stylus, have only damaged the top part of the groove wall. By using a narrow profile tip which sits a bit further into the groove can playback the undamaged section to give you a new clearer sound.

Interesting stuff. I bought my first all tube integrated amp recently and will pick it up on Saturday... the Rogue Audio Cronus Dark. I'm sure I will have questions down the road so it's nice to find you here as a reference.

Jeez, turn that tree off. I pronounce Psvane as Pavane also, because the way I understand it that was how it was supposed to be spelled but the Chinese registered it wrong as Psvane. I was totally satisfied with the stock tubes in my Willsenton R8 (Mk II) but switched out the KT88 for Mullard EL34 and really prefer them, not only the sound but the cooler operation. Then I tried the Horizon El34 tubes and I like them too but it's not a major change for me. Then I replaced the front end 6SL7 and 6SN7 tubes with Tung-Sol, and once again they sound fine but no big difference for me. Now that I'm older I don't delve on the critical differences anymore so it's kind of silly for me to tube roll, but it's kinda hard to resist. Since my amp defaults to triode mode I just leave it there, so I need to try it in ultra-linear also. I think you are right about the Northern Electric tubes being made in China because if they were made in Russia I think they would say so. As for The Tube Store, I was really surprised when I ordered the Tung-Sol tubes and they arrived from Ontario to southwest Ohio the next day via the standard FedEx. When I got my Psvane EL34s from Amazon you could only get matched pairs, but it looks like now they have matched quads also. Okay, end of rambling.

I too had a vibration issue from my Martin Logan's causing the glass top stand my PL-518 is sitting on to vibrate. The feet of the turntable damped some of it, but not all of it, so I made a wall shelf of my own, and it helped a lot. No more vibrations on the shelf, but yet I could feel subtle vibrations on the turntable itself. What I discovered was the turntable dust cover was the source of vibration, transmitting it into the turntable. As my room is fairly dust free, the simplest solution was to remove the duct cover whenever I play an LP, and being sure to put it back on when I was done.

This is why i use a magnetic suspension turntable platter and arm. Resting your other equipment on 3 metal cones will also improve the sound.

I don't "collect" records. I purchase records to listen to. I bought all my records in the 60's and 70's and don't need to purchase new ones.

I caught them all except the first one. And then I realized I do that! So from now on, I will not be pulling the record out of the sleeve at the edges by my fingertips. Thank you for the information as always Rick! You’re certainly very kind to share your knowledge with us! Merry Christmas!

Actually, the cartridge should be compatible with the tonearm mass, resonant frequency etc. The speakers should be the last things to buy. Source component....Phono stage...Preamplifier... Power Amplifier.... Speakers. to degrade the signal as less as possible.

Not snake oil but you must use it properly - it works great

Digital mimics the music, is not the real thing, digital works with transistors that open and close, they sound super bright, thin, and edgy; Vinyl is a constant signal. It's like playing a real instrument, there is no imitation. When properly mastered the music is almost as good as live music. Also vinyl is so much more expensive than CDs or Stream. A high end turn table may cost around $20K. As a matter in fact, Audiophiles that have a $100K and more expensive sound systems would not play CDs, most of these people use a turn table. Check Clearaudio, Linn, VPI, Technis and other turntable manufactures and you will learn why they are so expensive. Also you need real expensive speakers, expensive tube amplifiers, a good phono line stage or pre amplifier, very expensive speaker cables and audio interconnects.

I love my preamp! I'm using the Topping A90 Discrete headphone amp as a preamp, as it has both RCA and XLR outputs, and they can be enabled together, so I could hookup a sub if needed, but I have my vintage aDs 910s, (28htz-25khtz/ 93db/ 4ohms/ 125lbs/each w/stands) so I don't really need a sub though I have two 12" subs and they sound glorious with the 910s. The Topping a90D is the best-sounding bit of gear I've ever heard. I also have it paired with the Topping D70pro OCTO DAC, which is superb, according to all the reviews and my ears. I love my vintage gear, particularly the 2x Adcom 555s and my fave amp, the NAD 208thx. I didn't even know NAD made such high-powered amps. (250w/8ohms-425wpc/4ohms. But I'm am sold on the mid-fi lineup from China as well. I just hope the Topping combo lasts for a good while. It won't be such a deal if they break down in a year or two.

There’s something very enjoyable about listening to someone who speaks with modesty without giving into self-deprecation on a topic they are devoted to.

I white glove when I handle all my records. I clean each record before every play. It’s part of the fun 😂

The only thing that might happen if you play your records too loud is, you might get acoustic feedback, if you turn table isn't isolated well enough. Other than that, Crank It Up!

I'm new to records and i understand the way to pull them out but what if your album has two records how do you only pull one out and not both because when i try to let just one fall out onto my hand so i don't touch the grooves the other one comes out as well sorry if I'm not explained clearly or if its common sense😅😅

I don’t understand why you and everyone else don’t perform A/B comparisons. Set up one channel with Mullard tubes and the other with PSVANE tubes. Use an A/B switch to select the source for either the right or left channel. Make sure the same switch connects a dummy load to the output not under test as power amplifiers don’t tolerate open output. This ensures the sound comes from the same speaker position, making it easier to discern the differences between the two types of tubes. Remember to match the SPL levels for both channels. You can use the balance control or, if your amplifier has independent volume controls, adjust them accordingly. This method won’t test sound staging, but it will give you a clearer idea of the tonal differences between the tubes. That said, I’m not sure why different tubes would significantly affect staging, it seems more dependent on the amplifier’s design. I’ve been using this approach for years to compare various tubes at different stages and different tube amplifier designs. By the way, the best tube power amplifiers are those that don’t use coupling capacitors, opting instead for direct coupling or transformer coupling. You will be amazed by the sonics.

I wish you a merry Christmas with health and joy!!

Paper is abrasive, so I replace the inner paper sleeves with poly lined sleeves, and poly bag the covers, leaving the original inner sleeve inside. Setup: Dual Reloop RP-8000 MK2 TT's, Ortofon carts, Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3, DVS, Phase needless DVS, Virtual DJ, Sony Amp 2.1 channel amp and sub, Bose 501's, mirrored cartridge alignment protractor, Dr. Suzuki - Mix Edition Slipmats, & Vevor Ultrasonic cleaner. I use a wireless barcode scanner and Discogs to catalog. I play grade the vinyl separate from the covers. Sort by genre, then alphabetically.